Lecture :

Temperature
Logs and its
Applications
Instructor : Hamad ur Rahim
Class: DDE
Semester: III

Contents
SECTION 1: THEORY OF
LOGS

TEMPERATURE

Introduction
Theory
Log principle
Tools

SECTION 2: APPLICATIONS
Uses of Temperature Log
REFERENCES

Section
1

INTRODUCTION
Well logging

The continuous recording of a geophysical

parameter along a borehole produces a geophysical
well log.
Main purpose of well-logging is formation evaluation
(lithology, porosity, permeability, bed thickness and
water and hydrocarbon saturation). Well-logging is
done in most oil wells, mining exploration wells, and
in many water wells. (Robinson & Coruh, 1988)

Section
1

INTRODUCTION

Section
1

THEORY
Temperature sensors are attached to every tool
combination that is run in a well for the
measurement of the maximum temperature.
Few modern tools exist that can continuously
measure temperature as the tool travels down the
well.
Readings from a number of the maximum
thermometers attached to different tool
combinations and run at different times are analyzed
to give the corrected temperature at the bottom of
the borehole (bottom hole temperature, BHT).

Section
1

THEORY
Subsurface temperature increase with depth known as geothermal gradient or geotherm.
G=T

T
T

(formation)=
(surface)

(formation)-

T(surface)/ Depth

Formation Temperature

= Average mean surface temperature;

(-5 oC Permafrost; +5 oC Cold Zones;

15 oC Temperature zones; 25 oC tropical zones).

Section
1

THEORY

Typical geotherms for reservoirs are about

20 to 35 oC /km.
Higher values (up to 85 oC /km) can be
found in tectonically active areas
Lower ones (0.05 oC /km) in stable
continental platforms.
Hence, the bottom hole temperature (BHT)
for a 3000 m well with a geotherm of 25 oC
and a surface temperature of 15 oC is 90 oC.

Section
1

THEORY
Temperature in the
sub-surface increases
with depth. The rate
at which it does so is
called the geothermal
gradient or geotherm.
Graph of geothermal
gradients. The zone of
typical oilfield
gradients is indicated.

Section
1

THEORY

Geothermal gradient depend upon a formation

thermal conductivity (the efficiency with which that
formation transmits heat or, in the case of the earth
permits heat loss).
o Low thermal conductivity rocks, such as shale.
o high thermal conductivity rocks, such as salt.

Section
1

THEORY

Table: gives some range of thermal conductivity for typical lithologies.

Section
1

THEORY
When a rock with high thermal conductivity is
encountered, it will a show a low thermal gradient.
In shale, where the passage of heat is slow, the
gradients will be higher. In other words the blanket of
shale would keep us warm at night while a blanket of
salt would not!
Thus, the real temperature gradient in a well is not a
straight line but a series of gradients related to the
thermal conductivities of the various strata.
the gradient varying inversely to the thermal
conductivity.

Section
1

THEORY
In oil fields
temperature
gradients vary
from the
extremes of
0.05 oC /km to
85 oC /km
although typical
figures are 2035 oC /km.

 Notions of
temperature
variations with
depth and with
position in a
basin may be
expressed in map
form, using
contours of equal
geothermal
gradient.
Present day north
sea geothermal
gradients. (after
Cornelius, 1975:
Carstens and
Finstad, 1981:
Harper, 1971).
Taken from
Cornford (1984).

Section
1

LOG PRINCIPLE

Each tool combination is equipped with a temperature

sensor.
Temperature measurements are always made at the bottom
of the well.
A special thermometer tool ( Thermistor or metal whose
resistance is sensitive to temperature changes ) may be used
to give continuous temperature readings.
The absolute accuracy of temperature measurements is low
(2.5 oC).

Section
1

LOG PRINCIPLE

True formation
temperature

The actual temperature measured is that of the

drilling fluid not the formation temperature.
It is the temperature of the mud in the bore hole.
The drilling mud is cold compared to the
formation.
The cold drilling fluid invades the formation and
cools it down very efficiently via heat convection.

Section
1

LOG PRINCIPLE

During
circulation
of
drilling
fluid
the
temperature of the borehole reaches an
equilibrium defined by the cooling effect of the
drilling fluid and the heating effect of the
formation.
Equilibrium may only be attained after several
months after stopping the circulation of the
drilling fluid as in figure.

Section
1

LOG PRINCIPLE

To correct bore hole temperature values,

several methods have been devised.
The most frequently used method is Horner
plot method (Ferlt and Timko, 1972)

Section
1

Horner
method

LOG PRINCIPLE

It is most common method.

It plots the measured temperature on the concept of
straight line relationship between BHT and Log .
log(T/(t+T)).
T = Time in hours since circulation of the drilling fluid
was stopped.
t = length of time of circulation of drilling fluid before
logging.

The Horner plot generated with this data, and

the resulting formation temperature.

This plot a straight line that intersects

T(t+T)=1 at formation temperature .

The correction is negative on the surface but

Temperature 30 oC increase at 3000m.

Section
1

TOOLS

Section
2

Uses of Temperature Logs

Section
2

Uses of Temperature Logs

Correction of other tools
The sensors of other logging tools are sensitive to
temperature. The temperature measurement can
be used to correct for this .

Section
2

Uses of Temperature Logs

Correction of
measurements
Some parameters measured by other tools are
sensitive to temperature. The best example is
resistivity logs. The temperature data is used to
correct all resistivity data to a standard 24 oC so
they are not depth dependent and can be
compared.

Section
2

Uses of Temperature Logs

Hydrocarbon maturation
The maturity of hydrocarbons depends upon the
maximum temperature that the organic remains
have been subjected to, as well as time and
pressure.

Section
2

Uses of Temperature Logs

Correlation
Continuous temperature logs record differences in
thermal gradient that result from differences in the
thermal conductivity of the formations. These
difference can be used for correlation.

Section
2

Uses of Temperature Logs

over pressured zones
Continuous logs also note the presence of over
pressured zones, where the hot over pressured
fluids escape into the borehole and are noted by a
rise in the measured temperature.

Section
2

Uses of Temperature Logs

Fluid movement
Continuous logs can observe intervals of raised (or
lowered) temperature caused by the influx of
hotter (or colder) fluids into the borehole through
the rock matrix, or more usually, through patent
fractures. This effect may also be due to cold
drilling fluid escaping into the rock.

Schlumberger, 1998, log interpretation charts;

Schlumberger wire-line and testing, SMP-7006,
sugar land, Texas.
Rider, M.H., 1986. The geological interpretation of
well logs, Blacky and Son Limited, Bishopbrigg,
Glasgow.175P
Western Atlas logging services, 1985, log
Interpretation charts, Rev. 12/95; Baker atlas,
Houston, Texas.